Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-05
The FiNieth Congress.


will assemble. The democratic caucus,
having chosen Mr.. Carlisle for re-elec-
tion as speaker of the house. the work
OF organization can be speedily accom-
plished. Mr.. Reed, of Maine, will
again receive the republican vote for
the speakership. In the senate the or
ganization is already complete, and in
terest in the first days session of that
body will relate to the Indiana, West
Virginia and Florida contests. and es-
pecially to the first of these. A COM
mittee of the causus of democratic sem
ators held Saturday evening reported
favorably to seating Turpie and
advised that the democrats act
together as unit in support
of this view. The intention of re-
publican senators regarding these con-
tests is only u matter of conjecture.
The new congress assemblies under
circumstances which. give it great i'm
portance, and its proceedings will be
watched by the country with unusual
interest. The first session will doubt
less be prolonged far into next summer.
and promises to be an active and strong
one. What is the prospect of accom-
plishing such legislation as the country
hopes for and requires for reducing tax
alton, diminishing the excessive reve-
nues of the government. and providing
for a wise employment of the surplus on
hand These questions overshadow all
others in the public mind, and
are very far in advance of
all others in their Importance,
immediate and remote. Men of both
parties recognize the Urgent necessity
for legislation to effect these objects.
but there is a wide divergence of views
as to methods. Can these be brought
into accord upon any measure that will
accomplish the desired end? The very
general opinion is that it will be found
extremely difficult, If not impossible to
do this.
The actual democratic maiority in the
house is only eleven. and the party is
not unit on the question of revenue re-
form. The strength Of the faction op-
posed to any extensive interference
with the tariff is not certainly known,
but is claimed to be twenty-five or
thirty. If it shall prove to be one-half
of the least of these numbers it will be
strong enough assuming that perhaps not
more than half a dozen republicans de-
cline to act with their party, to prevent
any revenue legislation Objectionable to
it. There is no doubt that the leader
of this faction is fully determined to as
sert himself in this as he did in the last
two congresses. He has been ominously
ignored by the revenue reform leaders,
and he has been equally careful to avoid
them. . Reports of proposed conferences
between Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Randall
are shown to have had no foundation.
The policies of these leaders, there is
every reason to believe, will be found
as hostile as ever. There is great pOssi-
bility that an effort will be made to en-
clude the latter from the party councils,
which could serve only to intensity the
hostility. Such is the situation at the
is certainly an unpromising one.
There is really less reason to expect
wise revenue legislation of this con-
gress than there was of the last, in
which the democrats had a majority of
forty, and in which, also, they had
leaders who will be absent from the
fftieth congress. The only respect in
which the conditions are changed is the
fact that the presidential election is
nearer, but it is not apparent that this
consideration is exerting any influence
upon those democrats in congress who
have hitherto opposed the will of the
majority.